Master of Chemical and Materials Engineering

Objectives

Learning Outcomes

In the course of the two master years the student is given the opportunity to combine a broad, multidisciplinary engineering education with a specialisation in the field of chemistry and materials, building on the foundations of the broad, scientific en technological basic knowledge acquired during their bachelor education. The Master of Science in Chemical and Materials Engineering offers a unique, integrated insight in chemical and material technology. An important fraction of the courses is taught in English.

The general aim of the Master of Science in Chemical and Materials Engineering is forming qualified engineers who will contribute to all domains and sectors across society. They will play a unique role in sustainable development. They must manage resources, energy, and the environment in a responsible and careful fashion, in accordance with the ‘responsible care charter’ of the chemical industry. They are prepared to face the demands of an international career with English as their professional language.

A more specific goal of the Master of Science in Chemical and Materials Engineering is to form engineers that answer the modern technological needs of the labour market, especially regarding process, chemical and environmental technology and in materials’ science. The graduates Master of Science in Chemical and Materials Engineering will initiate, perform, and manage projects in this context, with special attention for the interactions between chemical and material’s technology.

The Profile Process Technology aims at training students to become engineers who are employable in the process and biotechnology, covering fields like inorganic bulk chemistry, petrochemical and polymer industry, pharmaceutical and food industry, extractive metallurgy, and the recycling industry. They can operate both in production units, for the operation and optimization of production facilities, and in consultant engineering firms, for designing new production units. In addition, they are employable in the environmental sector, where they will trace, remedy, and especially prevent environmental problems, enveloping fields like waste management, and water and soil pollution. Their knowledge regarding material’s technology offers a unique added value for functioning optimally.

The Profile Materials aims at forming engineers that are employable in a wide field of materials and material’s technology. This covers both production and development facilities for different types of materials, such as metals, polymers, ceramics and composite materials, and aims at (i) the determination and modification material properties based on the application; (ii) the shaping and processing of materials into intermediate or finished products; (iii) the development of environmentally friendly and safe production processes for materials; (iv) the optimal integration of materials in other disciplines. The attention paid to the chemical structure of the materials results in a unique insight in the links between the composition, processing, and functionality of materials.

The graduates of the Master of Science in Chemical and Materials Engineering are expected to be able to comprehend the most advanced results and techniques in the field of chemistry and material technology, aiming at (i) the development of new processes and products, and (ii) their use in industry, society, and the environment.

The graduates must possess complementary multidisciplinary knowledge regarding all aspects of technology, such as project management, corporate management, economy, quality assurance, environmental protection, safety and health, and legal aspects, and their effect on technological choices.

Both knowledge levels must be integrated to solve complex multidisciplinary questions within the broad context of their field of study.

In addition to the expert and multidisciplinary knowledge, the profession of engineer requires a number of general skills. These encompass sound judgement, reasoning and problem solving, communication skills, mastering technical English, reporting and presenting skills. The graduates must be aware of the necessity of life long learning to closely follow new developments at the technological, industrial and scientific level. These skills, initiated at the bachelor level, are further developed at the master level, and are more specifically tested during the internship and the preparation of the master thesis.

Domain specific learning outcomes include knowledge and insight in unit operations, separation processes, process technology, nanotechnology, techniques for the determination and adaptation of properties of molecules and materials, as well as in environmental and legal ordinances regarding the production of materials. In the profile Process Technology, there are additional goals regarding design methods for reactors and production units, and process control. In the profile Materials, there are additional goals regarding the processing of materials, sustainability of materials, and the properties of materials.